Firefighter Turns Self In On Charges Stemming From Fatal Crash

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Matt Poston, a firefighter with the Hutchinson Fire Department, turned himself in to face charges including homicide by vehicle and driving under the influence.

The 29-year-old surrendered six months after an accident on Lowber Road just outside West Newton.

Investigators, without a direct blood draw from Poston took weeks before they thought they had enough evidence to file charges.

A tiger doll is among the memorials at the utility pole where 33-year-old Gary Moore, nicknamed Tiger, a member of the Yukon Fire Department and manager of Rostraver-West Newton emergency services, died.

Both had been drinking at the Yukon fire hall nearby when Poston drove Moore home in February.

Chief Dan Augustine of the Lowber Fire Department was among the first at the scene that night in February.

And recalls the funeral and memorial to Moore and was saddened at how Moore's life ended.

"He was a great guy," said Augustine. "He belonged to ambulance service for years and years and and also was fire chief for Yukon. He was a great guy. All around great guy."

But investigators put the responsibility on Poston who did not stay to render aid.

"Obviously in this particular case that did not happen," said State Police Trooper Steve Limani. "And the passenger was dying and ultimately died. Now whether Mr. Poston was going to be able to render enough aid to keep him alive, I don't necessarily know if that's the case. However it's his responsibility to stay there and try and render aid."

The criminal complaint quotes Poston as saying, "I know I did the wrong thing, 100 percent. I know I did, however I felt like I did the right thing because I didn't want to be that guy that breaks out in an attitude when asked a bunch of questions."

Bond was set at $50,000 and a condition of that bond is that Poston can't leave Pennsylvania.

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